I am getting ready to do my first home health Medicare recert. While
previewing the form, I notice the following outcome measures:
* Dressing UB
* Dressing LB
* Bathing
* Toileting
* Transferring
* Ambulation/Locomotion
Honestly, my mouth just about hit the floor! In my HH facility, there
are now about 5 full-time/prn therapists. This breaks down to 4
PTs/PTAs and 1 OT. Why in the world are there so many PT's and only 1
OT????. Why isn't OT the PREMIER home health discipline?
My answers are really just a bunch of question:
Isn't it because OT has already painted itself into this silly
corner of focused treatment on the UE?
Isn't it because OT lacks respect and understanding?
Isn't it because in rehab, OT's stand or sit with their
patients doing silly games with bean bags, balloons, pegs,
cones, shoulder arcs, etc?
Isn't it because our patients don't demand OT services?
Isn't it because doctor's don't understand or respect our
services?
Isn't it because we've delegated functional mobility to the
the PT's?
There really is no one to blame but ourselves for this situation!!!
You know, I'm going to give an inservice to the home health staff, but
I'm NOT going to say this is what OT does or doesn't do. Instead, I'm
going to say that this what *I*, as an OT, do. Why? Because I can't
say this what my profession does when in reality it isn't. In fact,
that's a HUGE problem for us! Our professional literature and ad
campaigns say something and yet many of us do something totally
different. Why? I don't know but I do know it's a HUGE white elephant
that needs to be shot!
Ron
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Ron Carson MHS, OT
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